TRAILBLAZING Jerusarema-Mbende outfit, Ngoma Dzepasi, has been contracted by the National Association of Primary School Heads (NAPH) to conduct workshops on Muchongoyo dance in primary schools across Mashonaland East Province.
BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
The workshops will be supported by National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ).
The award-winning Goromonzi ensemble will be touring schools in the province alongside internationally-acclaimed Hwamanda traditional dance group and will conclude the tour on July 25 ahead of the next edition of the Jikinya Festival, which will be dominated by the Muchongoyo dance.
Ngoma Dzepasi will be represented by founder Alfred Chiyangwa and drummer Farai Jambwa, while Harare-based Hwamanda will second Laiton Laimbo, Musa Legala and Cynthia Mafaune.
Chiyangwa told NewsDay during a workshop conducted at St Joseph Primary School in Goromonzi on Wednesday that his group was excited to be part of such a high profile initiative.
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“We are honoured to be part of the Muchongoyo train the trainer workshop for Jikinya 2017-2018 finals. It’s great to be able to promote traditional dance in schools. We feel good to be part of the education system in schools as we support the government on the new curriculum,” he said.
“Our wish is to see big talents develop to greater levels, especially in rural schools and we would like to thank all the NAPH heads in all the districts of Mashonaland East because for giving us this opportunity,” he said.
The team has so far covered schools in Mutoko, Mudzi, Murewa and Goromonzi.
Jikinya Dance Festival is an annual event hosted by the NACZ that aims at encouraging youths to appreciate and perform Zimbabwean traditional dances to preserve the nation’s heritage.
The competition starts at a cluster level up to national level that will see provincial winners battling for the top spot.